Bonding machine

ABSTRACT

A bonding machine for adhesively joining sheets of paper or the like, having as its principal elements a housing, and within it an anvil, an actuating mechanism, and a tape system. When the machine is idle there exists a gap between the anvil and the surface of the actuating mechanism facing it. Sheets to be bonded are placed into this gap. When the actuating mechanism is depressed it moves down toward the anvil, thus compressing the sheets. Upon releasing the actuating mechanism it moves away from the anvil and picks up the topmost sheet by vacuum action. At the same time the tape system transports a two-sided adhesive sticker between the separated sheets. When the actuating mechanism is again depressed, the sheets are recompressed but this time over the sticker, thus making a bond. The bonded sheets may be withdrawn as soon as the actuating mechanism is released again. The cycle may be repeated several times if more than two sheets are to be bonded together. The tape system, preferably in cartridge form, consists of two-sided adhesive stickers stored on a supply spool between cover films. A takeup spool reels in spent cover films. Gears, drive sprockets, and clutches transmit and synchronize motions of actuating mechanism, tape, and spools, so that the stickers are fed into the gap at the correct moment, and to the correct depth, and so that the proper tension in tape and spent films is maintained at all times.

June 6, 1972 United States Patent Heller [57] ABSTRACT A bonding machinefor adhesively joining sheets of paper or [541 BONDING MACHINE the like,having as its principal elements a housing, and within [72] Inventor:Kenneth G. Heller, 335 Palomar Drive, it an anvil, an actuatingmechanism, and a tape system. When Redwood City, Calif. 94062 Nov. 20,1969 [21] Appl. No.: 878,514

the machine is idle there exists a gap between the anvil and the surfaceof the actuating mechanism facing it. Sheets to be [22] Filed:

bonded are placed into this gap. When the actuating mechanism isdepressed it moves down toward the anvil, thus compressing the sheets.Upon releasing the actuating mechanism it moves away from the anvil andpicks up the top- [52]U.S.Cl...............................156/541,156/249,156/344, most'sheetby vacuum action, At the ame time the tape 156/584 system transports atwo-sided adhesive sticker between the separated sheets. When theactuating mechanism is again depressed, the sheets are recompressed butthis time over the sticker, thus making a bond. The bonded sheets may bewithdrawn as soon as the actuating mechanism is released again. Thecycle may be repeated several times if more than two sheets are to bebonded together. The tape system, preferably in cartridge form, consistsof two-sided adhesive stickers stored on a supply spool between coverfilms. A takeup spool reels in spent cover films. Gears, drivesprockets, and clutches transmit and synchronize motions of actuating Lex mechanism tape and s ools so that the ticker are fed into 2,940,8846/1960 while X the gap at the correct moment, and to the correct depth,and

so that the proper tension in tape and spent films is maintained at alltimes.

Primary Examiner Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-J. M. Hanley 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 N y/Z V0 .5

uwn \mn v l a INVENTOR KENNETH G. HELLEK BONDING MACHINE FIELD OF THEINVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the'past two or three decadesthere have been used for joining of sheets machines generally known asstaplers, which push U-shaped pointed wire staples through the sheets,and then effect a mechanical bond by bending the ends of the sta plestogether. Numerous such devices are on the market, and several" patents,such as US. Pat. Nos. 2,424,649 and 3,l44,653, cover in their claimsvarious elements of such staplers. Although convenient and cheap to use,and finding wide application, these staplers have a number ofdisadvantages; A notable case in point is that the staple must passthrough the sheets to be, fastened, thus pennanently damaging them.Stapled sheets may also damage adjacent materials,

. such as envelopes, in handling. There is also a tendency on the partof the user to discard loose or removed staples carelessly with the riskthat if this is done on or about delicate office machines, such asautomatic copiers, damage to these machines may result. Copying machineswill also show an image of staples fastening sheets on copiesmade.Another drawback of sharp metallic staples is that they can injureusers, particularly when they are removed by hand by bending back thepointed ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention provides a clean, rapid,automatic, and safe way of bonding sheets of .material, such as paper,and eliminates the disadvantages of conventional staplers cited above.More specifically, the object of my invention is the provision of abonding machine into which two or more sheets can be inserted, and thenbonded together by stickers coated with adhesive on front and backsurfaces.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a synchronizedactuating mechanism and tape feed mechanism in which sheets to. bebonded are separated, cover film is peeled from an adhesive sticker, thesticker interposed between the sheets, and the sheets then rejoined toform a bond via the sticker.

It is a further object of my invention that the bonding cycle can berepeated as often as desired to bond a plurality of sheets.

It is another object of my invention that the tape system, containingstickers, cover films, and all necessary spools, drives, gears, andclutches, be in the form of a cartridge which can be preassembled, andinserted into, or removed from the bonding machines housing as a unit.

- Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a bonding tapecomprising a series of two-sided self-adhesive stickers layered betweentwo cover films. In another variation of the invention the stickers arecarried on a single film. Yet another variation provides that stickersbe encapsulated between two cover films to form vapor-tight chambersabout each sticker in order to keep moisturized adhesive coatings fromdrying out.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere that form of the invention which has been selected forillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thepresent specification is outlined in full. In said drawings one form ofthe invention is shown, but

- it is to be understood that it is not limited to such form, since theinvention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality offorms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRANINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of abonding machine embodying the objects of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the bonding tape containing twosidedself-adhesive stickers, viewed along A--A and FIG. 3 is a similar viewof bonding tape containing twosided adhesive stickers sealedin'vapor-tight manner between two cover films.

FIG. 4 is'a partial sectional view, taken through B-B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsfor a more complete understanding of the invention, the bonding machineincludes a housing 1 in which an actuating mechanism 2, consisting ofcylinder 3, plunger 4, and face plate 5, is slideably mounted. When noexternal force is applied to plunger 4, return spring 6 biasescylinder 3upwardly in housing 1 so'that retaining ring 7 abuts the bottom surfaceof the barrel 8 of housing 1. F urthermore, suction spring 9 biasesplunger 4 upwardly in cylinder 3 so that the shoulder of plunger 4 abutsthe retaining ring 10 of cylinder 3. With actuating mechanism2in itsupward position, an insertion gap 11 is formed between the face plate 5and anvil 12. j

The apparatus also comprises a cartridge 13 containing bonding tape 14on supply spool 15. The cartridge 13 further contains a takeup spool'16, a spur gear 17 on shaft 18, a drive sprocket 19 as well as spurgears 20 and 21 on shaft 22, idler pulley 24 on shaft 25, sector gear 26on shaft 27, and head 46. The cartridge 13 is inserted into housing 1through an opening in the back formed when cover 28 isremoved. Uponreplacing the cartridge 13, or inserting anew one when the old one isempty of stickers 39, the cover 28 is replaced and secured by clasps 29.With cartridge 13 thus constrained in housing 1, sector gear 26 engagesrack 30 of cylinder 3.

Sector gear 26 is fixed to shaft 27 which is joumalled in bearings 32 inside plates 33 of cartridge 13. Drive sprocket l9 and gear 20 arerigidly attached to each other and to shaft 22, the latter engaginga'clutch 47 mounted in side plate 33. This clutch permits only clockwiserotation of shaft 22 and parts fixed to it. Gear 21 is rotatably mountedon shaft '22, and meshes with sector gear 26. In turn gear 21 acts upongear 20 through slip clutch 31. Gear 17 is fixed to shaft 18 which isjoumalled in bearings 34 in side plates 33. Takeup spool 16 is rotatablymountedon shaft 18, and receives turning torque from gear 17 throughslip clutch 35. Supply 'spool 15 rotates on shaft 23, fixed at its endsto side plates 33, against the resistance of slip clutch 36, thusmaintaining tension in bonding tape 14 it is withdrawn from supply spool15. Shaft 25 is fixed to side plates 33, and idler'pulley 24 freelyrotates on shaft 25. I

The bonding tape 14 as depicted in FIG. 2 consists of cover films 37 and38 disposed between which are a plurality of stickers 39. STickers 39are adhesive-coated on front and back surfaces, and have a lengthapproximately equal to onehalf the center-to-center distance betweenadjacent stickers .39. Perforations 41 on both edges of cover films 37and 38 are spaced to register with points 42 of drive sprocket 19.

The adhesive used on stickers 39 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 isof the self-adhesive type, i.e., requires only contact or pressure toefi'ect adhesion between the stickers 39and sheets of material to bebonded. Stickers 39 are made of a thin, flexible material such as paper,fabric, or plastic, as are also the cover films 37 and 38.

It will be readily apparent that cover film 38 may be omitted when usingself-adhesive stickers 39, provided that the adhesion between sticker 39and surface. 51 of cover film 37 is greater than between sticker 39. andsurface 50. This differential adhesion insures that stickers 39 willadhere to surface 51 as the bonding tape 14 separates from the supplyspool 15 and travels to the head 46. Thus each sticker 39 finds itselfon that side of cover film 37 which flexes convexly in going about theacute-angled head, thus causing the stickers to. peel off. I

In the bonding tape as shownin FIG. 3, stickers 39 are coated with amoisturized adhesive, and are sealed between cover films 37 and 38 bysea] beads 40 to form vapor-tight compartments 49.

Detailed formulations of adhesives, and descriptions of bearings,spools, slip clutches, and unidirectional clutches have been omitted asthese, taken singly, are not claimed as new, and are well known to thoseversed in the respective fields of technology.

OPERATION A Consider the machine at rest with bonding tape 14 and coverfilms 37 and 38 threaded from supply spool 15, through head 46, overdrive sprocket 19, over pulley 25, and onto takeup spool 16, as shown inFIG; 1. A sticker 39 is in the head 46, actuating mechanism 2 is biasedupwardly thus opening insertion gap 1 1 to its fullest compass. Twosheets of paper are now assumed to be inserted into insertion gap 11. Asknob 48 is depressed by the user's hand, plunger 4 descends in cylinder3'to contact face plate 5, thus compressing suction spring 9. Air isdischarged from chamber 43 and concurrently cylinder 3 descends untilthe two sheets of paper are compressed between face plate Sand anvil 12.Seal ring 44 provides for air-tight contact between face plate 5 and theupper of the two sheets.

In the downward motion of cylinder 3, rack 30 rotates sector gear 26clockwise and gear 21 counterclockwise. Because v of the unidirectionalnature of clutch 47 there can be only clockwise motion of shaft 22 andof drive sprocket 19 and gear 20, and therefore gear 21 merely slips onshaft 22. All

' tape-carrying elements therefore remain motionless and the tape isnotadvanced. Now, as the user's hand is lifted from knob 48, plunger 4ascends under the action of suction spring 9lcausing a vacuum to beformed in chamber 43. This suction sucks the upper of the two sheets, byway of suction orifices 45, against face plate 5, and causes this sheetto be raised and separated from the lower sheet. .As cylinder 3concurrently ascends under the action of returnspring 6, rack 30 causessectorv gear 26 to. turn counterclockwise, and gear 21 clockwise. Theslip torque of slip clutch 31 is adjusted so that clockwise rotation ofgear 21 causes gear 20 and drive sprocket 19 to turn clockwise throughthe same angle of rotation as gear 21 thus pulling precisely meteredlengths of cover films 37 and 38 over drive sprocket 19. An equal amountof bonding tape "14 is thereby dispensed from supply spool 15 throughhead 46, where the cover-films 37 and 38 are peeled from the sticker 39.Sticker 39 now projecm into the insertion gap 1 1, held by its trailingedge by head 46 in a position intermediate the two sheets of paper. Slipclutch 36 is adjusted to maintain tension in bonding tape l4'at a forcelevel somewhat lower than that produced on drive sprocket 19 by slipclutch 31. 1

Rotation of. gear causes gear 17 to turn counterclockwise, and likewisetakeup spool 16 through the frictional coupling action of slip clutch35. The diameters of gears 20 and 17, and of the takeup spool 16 are soproportioned that the takeup spool 16 will at all times slip on shaft18, thereby holding tension on the cover films 37 and 38 in accordancewiththe torque characteristics of slip clutch 35. The diameterrelationship of sector gear 26, gear 21, and drive sprocket 19 is suchthat for a full upward stroke of actuating mechanism 2 bonding tape 14is advanced exactly one-half center-to-center distance between stickers39.

The user again presses on knob 48. Sector gear 26 rotates clockwise andfor reasons explained above, no rotation of drive sprocket 19 or oftakeup spool 16 and supply spool 15 occurs. Thus the bonding tape 14 isnot transported. However the downward stroke of cylinder 3 causes thetop sheet of paper to be pressed against sticker 39, and this in turnagainst the bottom sheet lying on anvil 12.'As the users hand is takenfrom knob 48 the upward motion of actuating mechanism 2 brings about arepeat of the transport of bonding tape 14 described above; now howevera portion of bonding tape 14 containing no sticker 39 is brought throughthe head 46. Thus as the bonded-together sheets of paper are'lifled bysuction, no sticker 39 is dispensed into the insertion gap 11. Thesuction is broken quickly by air leakage into chamber 43 through theclearance between plunger 4 and cylinder 3, and the bonded sheets may bewithdrawn from the apparatus by the user. The sheets can also bewithdrawn earlier, even while there is still a vacuum in chamber 43, byfirmly pulling on the sheets in a direction substantially parallel toface plate 5 and anvil 12. The apparatus is now again at rest, ready fora repeat of the above-described bonding cycle.

It will be readily observed that if the user had inserted three or moresheets of paper, the first two actuations of knob 48 would have bondedthe top sheet to the second sheet, the next two actuations would havebonded this assemblage to the third sheet, and so on.

I claim: 1. A bonding machine comprising: a housing; a first surface onsaid housing; an actuating mechanism mounted for motion in said housingand having a second surface, said first and second surfaces normallybiased apart to form an insertion gap, but arranged to be brought intoparallel contacting relationship by force applied to said actuatingmechanism to close said insertion gap and to press together any sheetsof material inserted therein, said actuating mechanism also having sheetseparating means to selectively attract that sheet in said insertion gapwhich is closest to .said sheet separating means;

bonding tape means operatively associated with said actuating mechanismand comprising a bonding tape containing a plurality of spaced stickerscoated on front and back surfaces with adhesive, further comprising atape storage and transport mechanism arranged to store said bondingtape, to advance it in synchronism with the motion of said actuatingmechanism, to position a sticker in said insertion gap when said sheetseparating means has separated a sheet from another or others insaidinsertion gap, and to take up spent portions of said bonding tape.

2. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which: I

said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder springbiased upwardly insaid housing, said cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facingsaid tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside saidcylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper extremity of saidplunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of saidcylinder, seal means surrounding said face plate, and stop means tolimit the upward motion of said cylinder inside said housing, and ofsaid plunger inside said cylinder; f

said tape storage and transport mechanism comprises a bonding tapeconsisting of a plurality of stickers coated on front and back surfaceswith an adhesive of the self-adhesive type which requires only contactor the application of pressure to cause adhesion, said stickers disposedbetween two cover films and spaced evenly lengthwise so as to make thecenter-to-center distance between adjacent stickers twice the distancesaid bonding tape is transported by a 'full upward stroke of saidcylinder, said stickers having a length approximately one-half thecenter-to-center distance, said tape storage and transport mechanismfurther comprising side plates, afirst shaft journalled in said sideplates, a sector gear fixed on said first shaft, said sector gearengaging said rack, second shaft journalled in said side plates,.firstgear rotatably mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said sectorgear,second gear and a drive sprocket fixed on said second shaft, afriction clutch operatively associated with said first and second gears,and a unidirectional clutch operatively associated with said secondshaft so as to limit bonding tape motion to one feeding stickers towardsaid insertion gap, a third shaft journalled in said side plates,

and a third gear fixed to said third shaft, said third gear meshing withsaid second gear, a friction clutch operatively associated with saidthird gear and with a takeup spool rotatably mounted on said thirdshaft, a fourth shaft fixed to said side plates, a supply spoolrotatably and frictionally mounted on said fourth shaft, a headcomprising two wedge-shaped members, each having an acute angle on theside facing said insertion gap,said bonding tape initially stored onsaid supply spool, said cover films, following separation from saidstickers in said head, passing over said drive sprocket, thence over anidler pulley on a fifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeupspool.

face plate, and stop means to limit the upward motion of said cylinderinside said housing, and of said plunger inside said cylinder;

said tape storage and transport mechanism comprises a bonding tapeconsisting of a plurality of stickers coated on front and back surfaceswith a premoisturized adhesive, said stickers disposed and sealed byseal beads between two cover films to form a vapor-tight compartmentabout each sticker, said stickers spaced evenly lengthwise so as to makethe center-to-center distance between adjacent stickers twice thedistance said bonding tape is transported by a full upward stroke ofsaid cylinder, said stickers having a length approximately onehalf thecenter-to-center distance, said tape storage and transport mechanismfurther comprising side plates, a

3. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which:

said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder springbiased upwardly insaid housing, said cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facingsaid tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside saidcylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper extremity of saidplunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of saidcylinder, seal means surrounding said face plate, and stop means tolimit the upward motion of said cylinder inside said housing, and ofsaid plunger incylinder, said stickers having a length approximatelyonehalf the center-to-center distance, said stickers adhering morestrongly to a side 1 of said support film than to a side 2, so that assaid bonding tape is pulled off said supply spool by said tape transportmechanism said stickers adhere preferentially to said side 1 on its wayto said head, said side 1 being the side flexing convexly in goingaround said acute angled edge of said head, said tape storage andtransport mechanism further comprising side plates, a first shaftjournalled in said side plates, a sector gear fixed on said first shaft,said sector gear engaging said rack, second shaft journalled in saidside plates, first gear rotatably mounted on said second shaft andmeshing with said sector gear, second gear and a drive sprocket fixed onsaid second shaft, a friction clutch operatively associated with saidfirst and second gears, and a unidirectional clutch operativelyassociated with said second shaft so as to limit bonding tape motion toone feeding stickers toward said insertion gap, a third shaft journalledin said side plates, and a third gear fixed to said third shaft, saidthird gear meshing with said second gear, a friction clutch operativelyassociated with said third gear and with a takeup spool rotatablymounted on said third shaft, a fourth shaft fixed to said side plates, asupply spool rotatably and frictionally mounted on said fourth shaft,bonding tape initially-stored on said supply spOOl, said supportfilm,following separation from said stickers in said head, passingdirectly over said drive sprocket, thence over an idler pulley on afifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeup spool.

first shaft journalled in said side plates, a sector gear fixed on saidfirst shaft, said sector gear engaging said rack, second shaftjournalled in said side plates, first gear rotatably mounted on saidsecond shaft and meshing with said sector gear, second gear and a drivesprocket fixed on said second shaft, a friction clutch operativelyassociated with said first and second gears, and a unidirectional clutchoperatively associated with said id id cylinder; 25 second shaft so asto limit bonding tape motion to one said tape storage and transportmechanism comprises a feedmg f Y Said msemo" g p 3 thlrd shaftwedge-shaped head, having an acute angle on the side .l P l 531d P and il g fixed facing said insertion gap, a bonding tape consisting of a Saidthn'd P 'f th'rd S meshing i saldfecolld plurality of stickers coated onfront and back surfaces a fnctlon Flutch Operatlvely assoclated Wlthsaid with an adhesive of the self-adhesive type which requires 30 f and3 takeup P p y {mounted on only contact or the application of pressureto cause adhe- Said thlrd Shaft, a fourth Shafi f to Said slde p r}sion, said stickers disposed on a support film and spaced Supply Spoolrotatably tjncmmany mounted 531d evenly lengthwise so as to make thecenter-to-center fourth Shaft {head compnsmg two wedgff'shapefl ldistance between adjacent stickers twice the distance said P F havmg anacute angle slde facmg i bonding tape is transported by afull upwardstroke of said 35 msemon bondmg tape -Y Stored on said supply spool,said cover films, following separation from said stickers in saidhead,passing over said-drive sprocket, thence over an idler pulley on afifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeup spool.

5. A bonding machine comprising:

a housing;

a first surface on said housing;

an actuating mechanism mounted for motion in said housing and having asecond surface, said first and second surfaces normally biased apart toform an insertion gap, but arranged to be brought into parallelcontacting relationship by force applied to said actuating mechanism toclose said insertion gap and to press together any sheets of materialinserted therein, said actuating mechanism also having sheet separatingmeans to selectively attract that sheet in said insertion gap which isclosest to said sheet separating means;

a bonding tape and a tape storage and transport mechanism located insaid housing and forming a cartridge capable of insertion into, andwithdrawal from said housing as a unit, said bonding tape comprising aplurality of spaced stickers having adhesive on front and back surfaces,and said tape storage and transport mechanism arranged to store saidbonding tape, to advance it in synchronism with the motion of saidactuating mechanism, to remove a sticker from the bonding tape and toposition it between said attracted sheet and the adjacent unattractedsheet after the sheet separating means has caused separation to occur.

6. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5,

in which force is applied manually to said actuating 4. A bondingmachine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which:

said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder springbiased upwardly insaid housing, said cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facingsaid tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside saidcylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper-extremity of saidplunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of saidcylinder, seal means surrounding said 75 mechanism.

7. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5, in whichsheet separation is efiected by vacuum action.

8. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5, in whichsaid bonding tape comprises a non-adhesive film and said stickerssequentially spaced thereon, and in which the adhesive on front and backsurfaces is of the self-adhesive type requiring only contact with, orpressure against a sheet of material to cause adhesion.

9. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 8 in which saidtape storage comprises a supply spool and a takeup spool, and in whichthe stickers are removed from said film by peeling asthe bonding tape inits passage from the 'supply spool to the takeup spool is caused toexecute a sharp turn around a transversely positioned acute-angled headlocated adjacent to said insertion gap.

10. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 9, in which atthe end of a transport motion of said transport mechanism, andconcurrently with the completion of sheet separation, the sticker isheld to the film by its trailing edge,

thereby causing it to be positioned between the attracted sheet andadjacent unattracted sheet in a suspended mode.

1 l. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 9, in whichsaid transport mechanism comprises a shaft opera tively associated withsaid actuating mechanism, a toothed sprocket fixed on said shaft, and aslip clutch having a driving surface operatively associated 'with saidshaft and a driven surface operatively associated with said takeup spooland having said driving and driven surfaces in frictional slippingengagement.

1. A bonding machine comprising: a housing; a first surface on said housing; an actuating mechanism mounted for motion in said housing and having a second surface, said first and second surfaces normally biased apart to form an insertion gap, but arranged to be brought into parallel contacting relationship by force applied to said actuating mechanism to close said insertion gap and to press together any sheets of material inserted therein, said actuating mechanism also having sheet separating means to selectively attract that sheet in said insertion gap which is closest to said sheet separating means; bonding tape means operatively associated with said actuating mechanism and comprising a bonding tape containing a plurality of spaced stickers coated on front and back surfaces with adhesive, further comprising a tape storage and transport mechanism arranged to store said bonding tape, to advance it in synchronism with the motion of said actuating mechanism, to position a sticker in said insertion gap when said sheet separating means has separated a sheet from another or others in said insertion gap, and to take up spent portions of said bonding tape.
 2. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which: said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder spring-biased upwardly in said housing, saiD cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facing said tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside said cylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper extremity of said plunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of said cylinder, seal means surrounding said face plate, and stop means to limit the upward motion of said cylinder inside said housing, and of said plunger inside said cylinder; said tape storage and transport mechanism comprises a bonding tape consisting of a plurality of stickers coated on front and back surfaces with an adhesive of the self-adhesive type which requires only contact or the application of pressure to cause adhesion, said stickers disposed between two cover films and spaced evenly lengthwise so as to make the center-to-center distance between adjacent stickers twice the distance said bonding tape is transported by a full upward stroke of said cylinder, said stickers having a length approximately one-half the center-to-center distance, said tape storage and transport mechanism further comprising side plates, a first shaft journalled in said side plates, a sector gear fixed on said first shaft, said sector gear engaging said rack, second shaft journalled in said side plates, first gear rotatably mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said sector gear,second gear and a drive sprocket fixed on said second shaft, a friction clutch operatively associated with said first and second gears, and a unidirectional clutch operatively associated with said second shaft so as to limit bonding tape motion to one feeding stickers toward said insertion gap, a third shaft journalled in said side plates, and a third gear fixed to said third shaft, said third gear meshing with said second gear, a friction clutch operatively associated with said third gear and with a takeup spool rotatably mounted on said third shaft, a fourth shaft fixed to said side plates, a supply spool rotatably and frictionally mounted on said fourth shaft, a head comprising two wedge-shaped members, each having an acute angle on the side facing said insertion gap,said bonding tape initially stored on said supply spool, said cover films, following separation from said stickers in said head, passing over said drive sprocket, thence over an idler pulley on a fifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeup spool.
 3. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which: said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder spring-biased upwardly in said housing, said cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facing said tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside said cylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper extremity of said plunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of said cylinder, seal means surrounding said face plate, and stop means to limit the upward motion of said cylinder inside said housing, and of said plunger inside said cylinder; said tape storage and transport mechanism comprises a wedge-shaped head, having an acute angle on the side facing said insertion gap, a bonding tape consisting of a plurality of stickers coated on front and back surfaces with an adhesive of the self-adhesive type which requires only contact or the application of pressure to cause adhesion, said stickers disposed on a support film and spaced evenly lengthwise so as to make the center-to-center distance between adjacent stickers twice the distance said bonding tape is transported by a full upward stroke of said cylinder, said stickers having a length approximately one-half the center-to-center distance, said stickers adhering more strongly to a side 1 of said support film than to a side 2, so that as said bonding tape is pulled off said supply spool by said tape transport mechanism said stickers adhere preferentially to said side 1 on its way to said head, said side 1 being the side flexing convexly in going around said acute angled edge of said head, said tape storage and transport mecHanism further comprising side plates, a first shaft journalled in said side plates, a sector gear fixed on said first shaft, said sector gear engaging said rack, second shaft journalled in said side plates, first gear rotatably mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said sector gear, second gear and a drive sprocket fixed on said second shaft, a friction clutch operatively associated with said first and second gears, and a unidirectional clutch operatively associated with said second shaft so as to limit bonding tape motion to one feeding stickers toward said insertion gap, a third shaft journalled in said side plates, and a third gear fixed to said third shaft, said third gear meshing with said second gear, a friction clutch operatively associated with said third gear and with a takeup spool rotatably mounted on said third shaft, a fourth shaft fixed to said side plates, a supply spool rotatably and frictionally mounted on said fourth shaft, bonding tape initially stored on said supply spool, said support film,following separation from said stickers in said head, passing directly over said drive sprocket, thence over an idler pulley on a fifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeup spool.
 4. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 1, in which: said actuating mechanism comprises a cylinder spring-biased upwardly in said housing, said cylinder having a rack on its outer surface facing said tape storage and transport mechanism, a plunger inside said cylinder spring-biased upwardly, a knob at the upper extremity of said plunger, perforated face plate closing off the lower extremity of said cylinder, seal means surrounding said face plate, and stop means to limit the upward motion of said cylinder inside said housing, and of said plunger inside said cylinder; said tape storage and transport mechanism comprises a bonding tape consisting of a plurality of stickers coated on front and back surfaces with a premoisturized adhesive, said stickers disposed and sealed by seal beads between two cover films to form a vapor-tight compartment about each sticker, said stickers spaced evenly lengthwise so as to make the center-to-center distance between adjacent stickers twice the distance said bonding tape is transported by a full upward stroke of said cylinder, said stickers having a length approximately one-half the center-to-center distance, said tape storage and transport mechanism further comprising side plates, a first shaft journalled in said side plates, a sector gear fixed on said first shaft, said sector gear engaging said rack, second shaft journalled in said side plates, first gear rotatably mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said sector gear, second gear and a drive sprocket fixed on said second shaft, a friction clutch operatively associated with said first and second gears, and a unidirectional clutch operatively associated with said second shaft so as to limit bonding tape motion to one feeding stickers toward said insertion gap, a third shaft journalled in said side plates, and a third gear fixed on said third shaft, said third gear meshing with said second gear, a friction clutch operatively associated with said third gear and with a takeup spool rotatably mounted on said third shaft, a fourth shaft fixed to said side plates, a supply spool rotatably and frictionally mounted on said fourth shaft, a head comprising two wedge-shaped members, each having an acute angle on the side facing said insertion gap, said bonding tape initially stored on said supply spool, said cover films, following separation from said stickers in said head,passing over said drive sprocket, thence over an idler pulley on a fifth shaft fixed to said side plates to said takeup spool.
 5. A bonding machine comprising: a housing; a first surface on said housing; an actuating mechanism mounted for motion in said housing and having a second surface, said first and second surfaces normally biased apart to form an insertion gap, but arrangEd to be brought into parallel contacting relationship by force applied to said actuating mechanism to close said insertion gap and to press together any sheets of material inserted therein, said actuating mechanism also having sheet separating means to selectively attract that sheet in said insertion gap which is closest to said sheet separating means; a bonding tape and a tape storage and transport mechanism located in said housing and forming a cartridge capable of insertion into, and withdrawal from said housing as a unit, said bonding tape comprising a plurality of spaced stickers having adhesive on front and back surfaces, and said tape storage and transport mechanism arranged to store said bonding tape, to advance it in synchronism with the motion of said actuating mechanism, to remove a sticker from the bonding tape and to position it between said attracted sheet and the adjacent unattracted sheet after the sheet separating means has caused separation to occur.
 6. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5, in which force is applied manually to said actuating mechanism.
 7. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5, in which sheet separation is effected by vacuum action.
 8. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 5, in which said bonding tape comprises a non-adhesive film and said stickers sequentially spaced thereon, and in which the adhesive on front and back surfaces is of the self-adhesive type requiring only contact with, or pressure against a sheet of material to cause adhesion.
 9. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 8 in which said tape storage comprises a supply spool and a takeup spool, and in which the stickers are removed from said film by peeling as the bonding tape in its passage from the supply spool to the takeup spool is caused to execute a sharp turn around a transversely positioned acute-angled head located adjacent to said insertion gap.
 10. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 9, in which at the end of a transport motion of said transport mechanism, and concurrently with the completion of sheet separation, the sticker is held to the film by its trailing edge, thereby causing it to be positioned between the attracted sheet and adjacent unattracted sheet in a suspended mode.
 11. A bonding machine of the character set forth in claim 9, in which said transport mechanism comprises a shaft operatively associated with said actuating mechanism, a toothed sprocket fixed on said shaft, and a slip clutch having a driving surface operatively associated with said shaft and a driven surface operatively associated with said takeup spool and having said driving and driven surfaces in frictional slipping engagement. 